Temperature indicator



Aug. 29, 1944. R s s 2,357,140

TEMPERATURE INDICATOR Original File'd Nov. 9, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Frederick R. Sias,

His ttor-neg.

Aug. 29, 1944; F. R. slAs 2,357,140

TEMPERATURE INDICATOR Original Filed Nov. 9, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor: Frederick R. Sias,

Hi5 Attornes.

Patented A... 29, 1944 2,357,140 TEMPERATURE INDICATOR Frederick R. Sias, Marblehead, Mass, assignor to 'General Electric Company, a,corporation of New York Application June 10, 1943, Serial No. 490,341, which is a division of application Serial No.

465,079, November 9, .1942.

Divided and this application February 5, 1944,.Serial No. 521,255

1 Claim. (Cl. 171-95) This application is a division oi my application Serial No. 490,347, filed June 10, 1943, which, in turn, is a division of my application Serial No. 465,079, filed November 9, 1942, and relates primarily to an improved measuring circuit for an indicating system.

In carrying out my invention in its preferred form for the measurement of temperature, I utilize a Wheatston bridge circuit having constant resistance arms and an arm which varies in resistance in accordance with variations in temperature, and I employ a two-circuit current responsive instrument having one winding connected as the diagonal arm or bridge balance responsive element and having another winding so connected as to provide a controlling torque.

In the form of my invention which I now consider the preferred form, the current responsive instrument comprises a cross-coil instrument having the main winding mechanically divided into several parts, and having 'an auxiliary winding mechanically divided into two parts mounted. with a magnetic axis at right angles to the magnetic axis of the ma n winding, having fewer turns and having less pole width than the main winding so as to provide a narrow magnetic field in comparison with the-main winding. To cooperate with, the electrical windings, I provide a permanent magnet rotor of high-coercive-force, lightweight magnetic material having the shape of a flattened right circular cylinder magnetized transversely to its axis in a direction parallel to the flattened sides. The apparatus is so arranged that the rotor is in its midscale position when the magnet is in alignment with the magnetic axis of the auxiliary winding so as to give the auxiliary winding the greatest effect upon the rotor when it is in the midscale position.

A better understanding of my invention will be afiorded by the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, and those features of the invention which are believed to be novel and patentable will be pointed out in the claim appended hereto.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cross-coil current responsive instrument forming one embodiment-of my invention; Fig. 2 is a view showing a section cut. by plane 22' passing through the rotor axis of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective v ew, slightly enlarged, of the inner mechanism of the apparatus of Fig. 1

shown as turned degrees from its position.

within the device as illustrated-in Fig. 1; F'g. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the mechan'sm of Fig. 3 with the rotor shaft and pointer shown in addition; Fig. 5 is a schematic electric circuit diagram for one embodiment ,of my invention for measuring temperature; Fig. 5A is a schematic diagram explaining the princple of operation of diagram of a modiflcation in the arrangement of Fig. 5; Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram of amodification in the arrangement of Fig. 5 utilizing a simplified circuit; Fig. 7 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating a circuit for a resistance type temperature measuring system which is especially well adapted for an instrument of the type illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4; Fig. 8 is a vector diagram explanatory of the principle of operation of the apparatus of Fig. '7 and .the manner in which temperature compensation is obtained; and Fig. 9 is a vector diagram explanatory of the principle of operation of the instrument illustrated in.

Figs. 1 to 4 and showing the manner in which linear scale calibration is obtained. Like reference characters are used throughout the drawings to designate like parts.

Wheatstone bridge circuits may be utilized for the measurement of temperature if one of the arms of the bridge is composed of resistance material with an appreciable temperature coefiicient of resistance in comparison with other arms of the bridge. A single-coil instrument, such as a galvanometer or a milliammeter, may be connected in the diagonal arm of the bridge and variations in temperature will cause variations in the condition of balance or extent of unbalance of the bridge so as to produce variations in current and, consequently, deflection of the instrument in respons to variations in temperature.

The effect of variations in voltage of the current source for energizing the bridge may be overcome or minimizedby using a ratio type of instrument or cross-coil instrument having a main winding responsive to the condition of balance of the bridge and an auxiliary winding connected to the current source. I have found that an improved long scale indicating system with the pointer scale approximating degrees may be produced by various modifications of the basic Wheatstone bridge resistance type temperature measuring system.

In Fig. 5, I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention in which a double bridg e circuit is employed and a current responsive instrument is employed having operating coils connected with magnetic axes substantially at right angles. The

minals l6 and. I1 serving as the energizing terminals of the bridge and terminals l8 and I9 serving as the conjugate terminals of the bridge across which the diagonal arm may be con nected. The diagonal arm. consists of a coil A v which forms one of the windings of a cross-'coil current responsive instrument. The second bridge has two arms in common with the first bridge and comprises, in addition to the resistors l2 and H, a second pair of resistors 20 and 2| connected in series between the energizing terminals l6 and l! which are common to the first bridge and are connected to the battery IS. The conjugate terminals of the second bridge consist of the terminal I9 and the junction terminal 22 of resistors 20 and 2|, and the diagonal arm of the second bridge consists of a coil B which forms the second winding of the crosscoil instrument.

Two or the resistors forming symmetrically arranged arms of the double bridge circuit, for example, the resistors l3 and 2|, are composed of a material the resistance of which varies appreciably with temperature in comparison with the temperature eiTect of the other resistors. Preferably, in order to accentuate the efifect, the other resistors are composed of a material which has little or no temperature coefllcient of resistance such as maganin or constantin, for example, or some othersuitable material well known to those skilled in the art. The resistors l3 and 2| may be composed of copper or nickel wire, or any other suitable material known to those skilled in the art, having a relatively high temperature coefilcient of resistance.

For the type of operation desired under ordinary circumstances, it is preferable to select the desired total scale angle and the other bridge circuit balanced at a temperature representing ,4, of the desired total scale angle.

Let it be assumed, for instance, that th bridge consisting of the elements A, ll, l2, I3, and I4 is balanced at a temperature /5 the way up the scale from the minimum temperature to be measured by the apparatus. When this temperature tion of the rotor 23 is determined entirely by the coil B, the magnetic rotor 23 will take up a position with its poles NS along the'magnetic axis of the coil B represented by the arrow 24 as illustrated in Fig. 5A. When the temperature falls to a minimum, current will flow in the coil A and the flux is assumed to be in such a position as to deflect' the rotor 23 to the left to the position represented by the arrow 25. Since the coil B is also carrying current, the arrow 25 will be the coil B. At the maximum temperature the rotor will take up a position represented by the arrow 28 beyond the coil A. The angular distance between the maximum and minimum points 25 and 28 will a proach '150 degrees.

It will be observed that the currents in the coils- A and B each reverse as well as vary in magnitude in accordance with variations in temperature, thus bringing about the long scale angl of the system. 7

Although the arrangement of Fig. 5 is particularly well adapted for the measurement of temperature, it is not limited thereto and may be used also for the measurement of resistance, for

example, or to form a remote position indicator.

For example, the resistors l3 and 2| may be replaced by a telemeter transmitter resistor 29, shown in Fig. 53, having a midterminal l1 dividing the resistor into two parts, l3 and 2|, corresponding to the resistance arms l3 and 2|. In place of fixed connections to the ends of the resistor 29, adjustable connections I! and 22' corresponding to the terminals l3 and 22 of Fig.

5 may be used. The adjustable connections II and 22' serve for scale end adjustment. In place 40! the fixed connection between the resistor l4 exists, no current will flow in the coil A and the y direction of the magnetic flux will be determined wholly by the position of the coil B. The crosscoil instrument comprising the coils A and B is represented schematically in Fig. 5A where the coils A and B are shown mounted at right angles to one another with magnetic axes intersecting and with a transversely magnetized rotor 23 mounted with-the axis of rotation passing through the intersection of the magnetic axes of the coils A and B and perpendicular thereto. If desired, the wlndingsA and B may each be divided into two coils connected in series and mounted on opposite sides of the rotor 23. The current res'pone sive instrument may be of th type illustrated in Patent No. 2,248,616, granted to Fans, but with four coils and with the opposite coils connected in series and in separate circuits to form the windings A and B.

As the temperature deviates above or below the value at which zero current flows in the coil A,

the bridge including the coil A will be unbalanced in one direction or the other, and current and the junction of the bridge arms l3 and 2l,a movable brush 3! is utilized in the arrangement of Fig. 5B. The brush 30 is slidable along the resistor 23 in response to change in an indication or a position to be remotely indicated. For example, the brush 33 may be connected by a linkage (not shown) to a float arm attached to a float in a fuel tank in order to form a'remote indicating float gauge with a scale angle. about 150 degrees long.

' If a slightly shorter scale angle-is sumcient, a simplified arrangement of Fig. 6.may be em ployed which utilizes only a single bridge and only one bridge arm, the resistance of which varies with temperature. With this arrangement a scale length of about degrees may be obtained. Any one of the bridge arms may be composed of a resistance material which- As in I4". The bridge arm I)" may have a resistance varying with temperature as in the one of Fig. 5. However, a slightly greater deflection may be obtained by making the .arm 14" or the arm l2 the temperature variable resistance arm so as to produce variations in current flow in the coil B as well as in the coil A in response to variations in temperature. It will be under stood that if the coil wereshunted across a resistor included in a constant resistance circuit, it would act merely as a biasing coil and the current therein would not vary in response to variations in .temperature.

It will be understood that the. arrangements of Figs. and 6 may also be utilized with a battery having one terminal grounded in order to minimize the number of insulated conductors required. For example, if one of the terminals of the battery I5 is connected to a ground connection 32,- the lower ends of the resistors I3, l4, 2|, l3", I4" and 3| may be grounded at the most convenient locations instead of being connected by means of insulated conductors to the terminal ll.

The arrangement of Fig. 6 is preferably so adjusted that the bridge is balanced at the center scale position of the instrument, and the resistance of the resistor 3| is 'so chosen that the pointer deflects to the ends of the scale at the temperatures which are to be the maximum and minimum temperatures of the range for which the temperature measuring system is to be used.

In the arrangement of Fig. '7, in order to 1':

have a highly compact sensitive arrangement, I employ a main winding A wound from -=many turns of wire, and I employ an auxiliary or control winding B which consists of fewer turns, and I connect the winding B in series with the current source l5 to the bridge ll, l2, l3, and

are so chosen that the bridge is balanced at the center scale temperature.

The variable resistance arm !3, as in. the case of Figs. 5 and 6, may be composed of any suitable resistance material having an adequate temperature coeificient of resistance. It may, for example, consist of thermometer resistance wire wound on an insulated form and enclosed in a protective shell from, which it is insulated to form a so-called resistance bulb of the type described in Patent No. 2,149,448, granted to Lederer.

In order to protect the parts of the apparatus in the event ota possible short circuit, I prefer to connect a resistor 34 in series with the current source I5, the resistance of the resistor 34 being determined by the voltage of the source l5.

The manner in which the circuit of Fig. 7 serves to provide indications of temperature and give a wide angle of deflect on of the current responsive instrument is shown in Fig. 8. The flux of the winding B which remains substantially constant is represented by the vertical vector, and the flux of the coil A at right angles thereto at a given maximum temperature T1 is represented by the vector T1. -The rotor of the current responsive instrument takes up an angular position determined by the resultant of the vectors A and B, viz: the vector R. The corresponding resultant vector for the minimum temperature of the scale is R2. By making the coil A stronger than the coil B, it will be observed that a wide angle of deflection is obtained, the'angular length of the in B will afiect the total indicator scale angle.

Therefore the scale angle may be adjusted by adjusting the resistance of the shunt 33 to allow fortvariations in manufacturing tolerances.

One of the important advantages of the circuit of Fig. 7 is the fact that only the winding A need be highly sensitive as the winding B may be excited byany reasonable amount of current. However, if desired, the circuit may be rearranged to have the coil B with its compensating shunt and a series resistor shunted around the bridge, in which case adjustment of the series resistor would form the adjustment of the length of scale, angle. Also the complete bridge may be shunted by an adjustable resistor for adjusting the current through the coil B to control the scale angle.

The manner in which the circuit of Fig. 7 compensates for variations in ambient temperature will be better understood by first considering the operation in the event that the compensating resistor 33 is omitted. It will b assumed that all the resistances other than the resistance of the coils A and B and the resistance of the bulb I3 are relatively constant and will have negligible temperature coeificients of resistance. The resistance of the series resistor 34 tends to swamp out variations in resistance of the coil B, and

the current flowing through the coil B tends to remain constant as the ambient temperature varies. However, the variation in ambient temperature produces variations in the resistance of the coil A which is wound of copper wire and, consequently, a deflection of the instrument varies with variations in ambient temperature. On the other hand, when the resistor 33 is connected, variations in ambient temperature will cause variations in the diversion of current between the-shunt 33 and the auxiliary coil B, because the coil B is wound of copper which varies in resistancewith ambient temperature, whereas the resistance of the shunt 33 remains relatively constant. As the temperature rises, causing the current to diminish in the coil A,

more current is diverted from the coil B to the especially well adapted for use with the arrange-- ment of Fig. 7, is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4. The apparatus here illustrated comprises a suitable insulating base and connection block 35 supporting a housing or frame 36 composed of a material such as cast aluminum, for example, in which are mounted the windings A and B and a magnetic rotor 31 cooperating with the electrical windings A and B.

The main winding A is wound on a separable coil form in order that it may be mounted around the rotor. It may be divided into a plurality of parts so as to form a winding mechanically divisible into a plurality of winding spools, e. g., four winding spools carrying mechanically separate coils 31', 38, 39, and 40, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. These coils correspond to winding A, Figs. 5, 5A, 6, and 7. The coils 31 to 40 are electrically connected in series, however, by conductors (not shown) For the sake of maximum compactness the coils 31 to 40 are so formed and mounted as to fill as nearly as possible a circumscribing cylinder represented by the inner surface of a magnetic shield 4| composed of suitable high permeability material such as Mu metal, for example. The coils 38 and 39 are left sufllciently narrow, however, to leave space at the side for thin coils 42 and 43 which form two mechanically separate parts of the auxiliary winding B, which are also electrically connected in series by conductors (not shown). As shown by the drawings, in order to fit a circular contour more closely, the outer coils 31' and 40 of the winding A are made narrower than the inner coils 38 andv 39. The division of the windin A into four mechanically separate coils makes it possible to wind fully each of the four separate winding parts or coils so as to obtain the maximum windin cross section in each such part without danger of inadequate mechanical support or dimculty from sliding wires encountered in attempting to wind a coil which is tapered in thickness or has substantially different coil thickness in different parts of the coil. The separability f the winding A also facilitates assembly of the apparatus,

The larger inner coils 38 and 39 are wound on separable winding forms which may be thought of as single-flange spools 44 and 45 comprising flanges 46 and 41 integral with hollow cores or shells 48 and 49, respectively. Each of the shells 48 and 49 is semicylindrical in shape so that when the winding forms 44 and 45 are fitted together,

a cylindricalspace is provided within the coils to receive the rotor 31. The shells 48 and 49 may be composed of a suitable conducting material such as copper, so as to form a damping cup. Each has a projection, only one of which, 50, is visible, serving to support winding forms or spools and 52 carrying the coils 31' and 48, respectively. Each of thespools 5| and 52 consists of an inner flat rectangular flange 53 and an outer flange 54 which is a segment of a cylinder with an integral core 55 having an opening fitting the projection 56 of the inner winding form 44 or 45. Countersunk screw holes 55 and threaded holes 51 are provided in the outer and inner wind forms, respectively, to permit assembly of the winding A by means of screws, only one of which, 58, is shown in Fig. 3. The inner flanges 53 of the outer spools 5| and 52 serve also as outer flanges of the inner spools 44 and 45.

The parts 42 and 43 of the auxiliary winding B are also wound on coil forms or spools 59 which are shown to be thin and slightly curved in order to fit within the cylindrical surface of the shield 4| (Fig. 2). The coil forms 59 for the winding 13 have long rectangular openings 50, and it will be observed that the flanges 46 and 41 of the inner coil forms of the winding A hav side projections 6|, of such dimensions as to form a support over which the opening 60 may be fitted when the coil A has been assembled as shown in Fig. 3.

It will be seen that eachof the coil forms 59 for the auxiliary winding B serves also to hold together the projection 5| 0f the coil forms of the main winding A so a to hold this winding in assembled relation as illustrated in Fig. 3. The entire assembly of Fig. 3 is inserted in the Mu metal shield 4| of Fig. 2. The coil forms 59 are also held in place and all parts of the assembly of Fig. 3 are held together, by the shield 4|.

For holding the shield 4| within the frame 35,

a sub-bridge 62 covering the frame or housing 35 V is provided which is secured'thereto in any suitable manner as by means of screws 63. An inlower ends cooperating with jewel bearings of con-- ventional type and carries a balanced bent pointer 68 also of conventional type cooperating with a graduated scale (not shown). It will be understood that suitable openings are provided in the insulator 54 and the top bridge 55 to receive. the rotor spindle 51.

It will be observed that a pair of terminal lugs 59 is provided for making connections to one of the windings A, and a second pair of terminal lugs 10 is provided for making connections to the other of the windings B. The internal connections of the coils are conventional and are not shown.

The top bridge 62 serves also, if desired, 'as a support for a pull-off magnet 1| for deflecting the rotor 31 to an off-scale .position in case of power failure, as described in Patent No. 2,181,803, granted to Faus, or as described in my copending application, Serial No. 465,081, filed November 9,

1942, assigned to the same assignee as the present application. In this case the top bridge is composed of nonmagnetic material; but if more complete magnetic shielding should be desired, the top bridge 62 may be composed of permeable magnetic material, and a corresponding bottom shield may be placed at the bottom of the shield 4|. In that event, I would employ a diflerent form of pull-- off magnet and a different mounting arrangement for it. For example, I may mount approximately at the position of the screw 58-, a flat plate magnet magnetized in the direction of its thickness, such as shown at 24 in Fig. 9 of the ap-- plication of Harold T. Faus, Serial No, 295,597, filed September 19, 1939, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application. Suitable material for such a flat magnet is disclosed also in Patent No. 2,002,445, granted to Arey and Fans.

It will beubserved from Figs. 3 and 4 that thewinding B is composed of coils which are quite narrow in comparison with the coils comprising the winding A. Accordingly, the winding B producesa relatively narrow magnetic fleld acting upon the rotor 31. The rotor 31 is composed of high-coercive-force, exceedingly light, transversely magnetized material composed of a mile ture of sintered oxides, such as described in Patent No. 2,248,616, granted to Falls. The rotor 31 is also similar in shape to the aforesaid rotor described in the above patent,'except that it is In this position the rotor 31 has its line of magnetization 13 passing through the coils 42 and 43 forming the winding B, thus coinciding with the magnetic axis of the winding B. Owing to the narrowness of the magnetic field of the coil B and the additional fact that the rotor 31 is flattened on the sides so that it also has a narrow magnetic field, the component of force in the direction through the coils 42 and 43 of the winding B acting upon the rotor 31 is greatest when the rotor 31 is in the center coil position illustrated in Fig. 4, and least when the motor 31 is in either of the end scale positions approaching 90 degrees in either direction from the position illustrated in Fig. 4. Thus, .the arrangement overcomes end compression of the scale.

The advantage obtained by the narrow field arrangement just described in connection with the rotor 31 and the auxiliary winding B will be better understood by first considering the action of an instrument in which the main coil A and the cross coil B act with the same effect on the rotor, and the rotor is symmetrical with respect to its axis of rotation. Under these circumstances the force of either coil tends to vary sinusoidally with the angular position of the rotor. Deflection is produced in such instruments, however, by variation in field strength of at least one of the coils. Since in the circuit of Fig. 7 the current and field strengths of the winding B are held substantially constant, defiection is produced by variations in strength of the flux produced by the winding A.

In the vector diagram of Fig. 9 the vertical vector B represents the flux produced by the coil B. This vector represents the component of force acting upon the rotor 31 in a direction through the coils 42 and 43 of the winding B. The current and flux in the winding A are assumed to be varied in fivesuccessive increments as represented by the horizontal vectors Ao toAs.

For these six different values of current in the winding A represented in Fig. 9, there will be six different resultant flux directions represented by the resultant vectors R0, R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5. It will be seen, however, that the angular spacing between the vectors R to R is not uniform. Consequently, a nonuniform scale is obtained although the efiect in the coil A was assumed to be uniform. Such a compression of the end scale region and expansion of the midscale region may be desired in some cases, and

, the resultant force is R'i.

anda third pair of series 7 also connected between said the mainexpanded region may be varied by balancing the bridge of Fig. 7 at a different point from the center scale, if desired. However, ordinarily a linear angular deflection is desired.

Referring again to Fig. 9 and recalling that as described in connection with Fig. 4, the instrument there illustrated does not have a uniform cross force acting upon the rotor 31 for different angular positions thereof notwithstanding coni stancy ofcurrent in the winding B, it will be seen that with this type of instrument the vector B no longer represents the component of force acting in a direction through the magnetic axis of the winding B. On the contrary, when the of the first series pair and vector B. The action for scale end positions when the flux of the coil A equals either A0 or A5 is unchanged. 'However, when the flux of the coil A changes to the value A1, the component of force acting crosswise has increased to B1 and tion between the successive positions of the.

vectors Ro, R'1, R'z, R's, R'4, and R's.

I have herein shown and particularly described certain embodiments of my invention and certain methods oi operation embraced therein for the purpose of explaining its practice and showing its application, but it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations are possible, and I am, therefore, to cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of my invention which are defined in the appended claim.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A current responsive measuring system comprising a double bridge circuit and a current ratio responsive instrument of the type having a pair of coils, said double bridge circuit comprising a first bridge having first and second pairs of resistors in series parallel between input terminals adapted to have a current source connected thereto, each series pair of resistors having a junction terminal serving as a diagonal arm terminal, one of the coils of the current responsive instrument being connected between said diagonal arm terminals, and a second'bridge comprising a pair of series "connected resistors already included in the first-mentioned bridge connected resistors input terminals, the third pair of resistors having a junction terminal serving together with the junction terminal of the second seriespair of resistors as a pair of diagonal arm terminals for current responsive device being connected between said latter pairof diagonal arm terminals, one of the resistors one of the resistors of the second series'pair which is connected to the same input terminal as said resistor just mentioned, each having a resistance which varies in accordance with the quantity which is to be measured, said current responsive instrument having a scale determining the range within which measurements may be made, one of said bridges having resistances of such value as to be balanced with the instrument indication sub- FREDERICK R. SIAS.

Then when the flux" 

